This article is the latest edition of "Second Chances," a semi−recurring feature that looks at TV shows that deserve a second chance from viewers. Their ratings may be low, but their quality is high, so if you tuned out early on, here's our case for why you should give each show another try. Up this time: Fox's "Fringe."
Sci−fi is a tough genre to get right, especially on television. Scientific jargon about aliens and other dimensions doesn't sit well with the average audience, so sci−fi shows have to carefully balance their genre roots with more exciting action and characters to rope viewers in and keep them watching.
"The X−Files" (1993−2002) did it quite successfully (though arguably less so in its later years), and "Lost" (2004−10) was ABC's flagship series for the duration of its run. But then there are cases, like "Firefly" (2002−03), which barely last a season. Even "Lost," well, lost a good chunk of its viewership once it embraced its sci−fi side and revealed itself to be as much about time travel and electromagnetic energy as about its characters.
All of this is to say that "Fringe" has had its work cut out for it since it premiered in fall 2008. The series follows the FBI's Fringe Division, which is responsible for investigating out−of−the−ordinary cases relating to fringe science. This includes everything from shape−shifting to stolen dreams to vanishing buildings due to a riff between our universe and a parallel one, where each person in our world has an alternate version of themselves, where Sept. 11 never happened and where a copper Statue of Liberty houses the Department of Defense.
Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is the field agent who leads the team, which includes Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), a brilliant if somewhat crazy scientist, and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson). Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) is the special agent in charge, while Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) stays primarily in the lab to assist Dr. Bishop.
When the series began, it assumed a fairly straightforward procedural identity. There was some overarching mythology involving a string of events dubbed The Pattern, but most episodes featured a case−of−the−week storyline that was neatly tied up by the end of the episode.
By the end of the first season, though, more important pieces of mythology started to be inserted. It was revealed that, as a child, Olivia had been a test subject of Walter's for the drug Cortexiphan, and by the middle of the second season, the groundwork had been laid for the parallel universes. The story became much more serialized, and while there were still cases each week, the writers took care to link them all back to the broader interuniverse struggle.
Reading this over, I realize I'm making "Fringe" seem like a hardcore sci−fi show, which has a tendency to turn people off. But really, what's special about "Fringe" is that it works best when it goes for broke. In the early episodes, it was clear the show was struggling to find its identity, toeing the line between procedural and serial mythology. Once it committed itself to the latter, "Fringe" became an exponentially better series.
But it's not the science−fiction concepts that make "Fringe" exciting (although it does make for some great action and visual effects). What makes it stand out as one of the best shows currently on network television is its devotion to its characters and the honesty with which it handles their relationships amid the impending war between Over Here and Over There.
Olivia, Walter and Peter always functioned as a quasi−family unit, but it has gone a step further this season. After Olivia got stuck on the other side during a mission, her alternate "Fauxlivia" assumed her identity and took her place Over Here. She and Peter began a romantic relationship under the guise that it was actually Olivia, but when our real heroine returned, the reveal shattered their realities.
The relationship drama is heading toward soapy territory, as we recently learned that the fate of the two universes depends on which version of Olivia Peter ultimately chooses, but most of this saga draws on great acting work from Torv, as both versions of her character, and Jackson. Torv in particular started off as the weak link in the cast but has now developed into a strong leading lady who is just as adept at playing the action bits as the emotional notes.
Similarly, Noble has always been terrific as the eccentric Dr. Bishop, but the alternate universe story has added another layer to his character. It was revealed late last season that Walter actually stole Peter from the other universe and raised him as his own after his own son died. That one action has colored all his others, and Noble is brilliant in showing the emotional toll his selfishness has had on him.
"Fringe" now airs on Friday nights, and its ratings have dropped since the move from Thursday. Its future does not look too promising. But whether you're a fan of sci−fi, character−driven drama or just good television, give "Fringe" a chance because as of now, there's really nothing else like it.
